What is technostress and how can it be avoided at home and in the workplace?

Evolution is a wonderful thing. It gave us hand that can grasp, eyes that can see both at a distance and close up and legs that can allow us to run away from things of which we are frightened at paces that can surprise us!

Evolution did not, however, prepare us for the computer! How can the work environment be changed by ICT and what can we do to alleviate any negative problems that are caused by it?

TECHNO, TECHNO, TECHNO STRESS!!

Technostress is not a word I have just made up. All too often people think that computers are a cure all, that they will solve all of our problems. However, history has shown us that every new invention brings its own downsides and problems. In a way you could call technostress the negative link between people and computers.

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Below is a list of the causes of technostress. Have you ever suffered anxiety or anger because of:

  • The very fast pace of change in technology? Why is that just as we get used to one version of Windows, out comes another! How many versions of Windows have you used?
  • Hardware and/or software have let you down, in other words, it is sometimes not reliable? USB suddenly not working? Hard drive gone kaput?
  • Not having enough training to work with new technology? Ever worked at a place where new software is loaded up and – whoosh! – you are expected to be the instant expert?
  • An increasing amount of workload to do (in other words, a demanded increase in your productivity or CAPACITY) because of new technology? This is often referred to as “multi-tasking madness”.
  • This is not only at work! For example, you can cook your dinner on in the microwave, talk on your mobile phone, print a document and do the washing all at the same time. Your mind is over stimulated by doing all this and often you can’t get a good night’s sleep.

Sound familiar? Thought so! Have you ever wanted to throw the computer out of the window (together with your boss at times?).

How can technostress be eliminated or at least reduced to a minimum. There are several ways.

The first is to ensure that the software used by an organisation is user friendly. Buying cheap software may seem like a money saver but at the end of the day if it stops people from working properly, it was not a saving.

Secondly improve communication in the environment. Email is relied on heavily these days but the difference a few friendly word face-to-face makes can be remarkable. In other words, if Peggy Sue ten metres away from you emails you with a question, go ahead and walk across to give your answer!

If you are a manager, do not delegate all the time from the comfortable ivory tower of email! Talk your staff through certain things (even if you have sent it out on email before anyway!).

Hand in hand with these improved levels of communication may come a new patience among staff and from there a better sense of stability in the workplace.

Finally, most good organisations will have a continuing process of staff development and training in order to help both new and older staff cope with the changes in technology. This is vital to help people feel that they are moving and adapting with change rather than being left behind.

On a personal level, try and unwind! You may, at work or College, spend hours and hour in front of a screen either multitasking (another work for it is polyphasic activity) or trying to solve a single problem. Whatever you do, it is important that once you get home you make sure that you get up and move around as much as you can. Try and do something you enjoy just for the fun of it.

Technostress may be inevitable but there are ways to cope with it!